School districts give students eclipse excuse for Monday event

Remember! Do not look directly at the sun. These tricks can help you enjoy the eclipse safely.
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Dominic Scrima, 7, of Hobe Sound, looks at the sun through ISO-compliant safe solar eclipse glasses, which were free at the Hobe Sound Public Library courtesy of the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, after he finished making a pinhole viewer out of a shoebox through a library event Aug. 16, 2017. "I think it's going to look like ... like a dark space and half of a moon showing out,” he said, excitedly.(Photo: XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM)Buy Photo

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From left, Ari Vein, 7, Mia Vein, 8, and Dominic Scrima, 7, all of Hobe Sound, practice viewing the sun safely with pinhole viewers they made out of shoeboxes Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, during an event at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Dominic Scrima, 7, of Hobe Sound, looks at the sun through ISO-compliant safe solar eclipse glasses, which were free at the Hobe Sound Public Library courtesy of the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, after he finished making a pinhole viewer out of a shoebox through a library event Aug. 16, 2017. "I think it's going to look like ... like a dark space and half of a moon showing out,” he said, excitedly. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Mikaela Hoffman (right), 6, of Hobe Sound, gets help from her mother, Alejandra Hoffman, while making a pinhole viewer out of shoebox during an instructional event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, promoted safety for those planning to view Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Kaylah Gotzel, 8, of Palm City works on her completed pinhole viewer made out of a shoebox Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

Participants learn how to build pinhole viewers out of shoeboxes, and how to safely view the upcoming solar eclipse, during an event Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Hobe Sound Public Library in Hobe Sound. "Sun Eclipse: Pinhole viewer," sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County in collaboration with the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative, was held in lead up to Monday's solar eclipse. XAVIER MASCAREÑAS/TCPALM

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In St. Lucie County, some students will have outdoor lessons focused on the eclipse, using protective eyewear under heightened supervision, school officials said.

Indian River County School District's science department gave lessons to teachers about how the eclipse affects the planet and environment, school officials said.

Students in Martin and Indian River counties will have live streams of the event, school officials said.

School officials are asking parents to explain the dangers of staring at the eclipse to their children. Further, parents whose children walk or ride bikes to school should take extra precautions, school officials said.

(Photo: Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY)

The Office of Catholic Schools, meanwhile, will close Catholic elementary and high schools within the Diocese of Palm Beach, officials said.

On the Treasure Coast, this includes John Carroll High School and St. Anastasia School in Fort Pierce, St. Helen School in Vero Beach, St. Joseph School in Stuart and Hope Rural School in Indiantown.

The eclipse is happening at the regular dismissal time for most of the schools, creating difficulties for supervision, school officials said.

St. Lucie County Library System and the Oxbow Eco-Center are hosting pre-eclipse events to teach students and parents about the proper way to view a solar eclipse. Participants will receive a free pair of solar eclipse viewing glasses while supplies last, according to the Facebook event.